These days, doctors and medical professionals are making it their business to emphasize the importance of a good night’s sleep. It’s an unfortunate fact that many Americans have a tendency to skimp on sleep. And while such habits can certainly take a physical and mental toll on the body, they can also negatively impact a person’s skin. Santo Criscuolo is the owner of Ambrosia Medspa, a high-quality Seattle-area skin care clinic offering a variety of skin-related services and products. Criscuolo says that poor sleeping habits can easily leave a person with dull, lackluster skin.
During a good night’s sleep, the body can restore its energy and recover from the negative effects caused by the workday’s stress. As part of the process, our skin essentially gets renewed and restored to a less damaged state. Therefore, when we don’t get enough sleep, our skin isn’t given the proper chance to heal and restore itself. In fact, a lack of sleep over the course of one single night can result in noticeable changes to the skin as immediately as the following morning. Improper sleep on any given night can leave us with puffy eyes and dark circles upon waking up. And over time, a general lack of sleep can contribute to the development of fine lines and wrinkles. While certain skin care products and treatments can work to reverse some of the side effects of inadequate sleep, the way best to combat such issues is to get the right amount of sleep in the first place.
Of course, for some people, a good night’s sleep just doesn’t come naturally. Many people have trouble falling asleep and, despite their best efforts to treat their bodies to the right amount of rest, they wind up spending half the night tossing and turning much to their skin’s chagrin. The following are a few tips for getting a good night’s sleep:
Ease into it
Once you climb into bed, you can’t expect to fall asleep immediately. Therefore, it’s a good idea to develop a routine that eases you into sleep. Start off by getting into bed at least 30 minutes before you’d ideally like to fall asleep. This way, there will be less pressure on you to fall asleep quickly. Next, try to do something that will relax you without stimulating your mind too much. One suggestion is reading a few short magazine articles to get your mind off of the day’s stresses. (Don’t delve into a thrilling book; you’ll only push yourself to stay awake wanting to know more.) Another option is to play some soothing music in order to put your mind at ease. In fact, plenty of bedtime music mixes are on the market that are specially-designed to help people fall asleep.
Make your bed as comfortable as possible
A good way to ensure that you get the right amount of rest is to make your bed as comfortable as it can be. First, you’ll want to make sure that as you lay in bed, you’re not too hot or too cold. Many people prefer to keep their bedrooms colder than necessary so that they are able to cover up with a blanket and not get too warm or sweaty in the process. On cooler nights, a cozy down comforter can be the perfect piece of bedding for a good night’s sleep. Throw in some sheets with a higher thread count, and your bed will be so inviting that you won’t want to leave it. You should also make sure that your pillows are just the right size to give you the support that you need as pillows that are too fluffy or too flat can make it harder to get into that ideal sleeping position.
Avoid alcohol and caffeine close to bedtime
Caffeine, even in the smallest of doses, can keep you awake at night. While many people make it a policy to avoid strong cups of coffee after dinnertime, plenty don’t realize that items such as chocolate also contain their fair share of caffeine (not to mention sugar and carbohydrates, which should also be avoided before bedtime). In order to ensure that you don’t make falling asleep any more difficult than it has to be, avoid caffeine in its entirety for several hours before your bedtime. While caffeine is clearly not a sleep-friendly option, alcohol is also something to steer clear of prior to hitting the sack. Although alcohol might initially make you tired and help you fall asleep, it can also dry out your system and cause you to wake up in the middle of the night feeling parched and restless. So while bedtime alcohol might seem like a good idea, it’s probably something that you’ll regret in the morning.
Remember, there is a direct correlation between proper sleeping habits and healthy skin. So as busy as your schedule might be, it’s imperative that you make sleep a priority. Your body – and your skin – will thank you for it in the long run.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
